What software you get with a fresh "linux install" is going to vary drastically depending on what distro you choose.

If some of you are interested in trying Linux out and are new to it, I recommend you check out the Wubi Installer. It allows you to download and install Ubuntu (or Xubuntu and Kubuntu) very easily. You can then boot into Ubuntu natively and use it. It's not a VM or anything like that, although it does use a virtual disk.

If you decide Linux isn't for you, just uninstall it from Windows like you would any other program.

I want a program where I can put a dvd in my laptop and take screenshots from the film. I had one on my other laptop, but it died and I forgot the name of the program. (And yes, I know that theoretically I could achieve this now with the 'PrtSc / SysRq' key by repeatedly pasting into paint, but this other program did it a lot more efficiently) V nice thread.

AxCrypt - Per file encryption. Does not work with XP x64 last I checked

Anyone recommend a great opensource text editor (with column mode)? I use ultraedit personally but they keep dicking me over with updates (can never download the version I actually have a license for)

I'm not sure what you mean by column mode, but my text editor of choice is VIM. This is a much improved version of the ancient UNIX vi editor, so if you're not familiar with vi, or if you don't like vi, VIM is probably not for you. It is available for Linux and most flavors of UNIX as well as window, in both character mode and GUI versions. It is highly configurable with many sophisticated feautres.

I know with windows firewall in XP, it offers no outbound leak detection/protection, but I think I've read it's been implemented in Vista, still surely not as good as solid 3rd party firewalls like Comodo.

Antivir Personal - Another decent free AV. Has higher detection rates than AVG although there is a nag screen that pops up everytime it updates.

I started using this one when AVG 8 started giving me "out of memory" errors for some reason.

You can disable the pop up by going into the directory where Avira Antivir is installed (use an Administrator account) and right clicking on avnotify.exe, choose Properties, go to the Security tab, and check the Deny Read and Execute permissions. Do this for every user.

teracopy. This program is EXCELLENT for copying/moving large amounts of data between hard drives. It goes so much faster. Another nice benefit that I like more in windows, is let's say you're moving a total of 8 different folders about 1-2 gb each. In windows, if you don't select them all at once, each new copy/paste opens in a new window and runs concurrently with the last one which is obviously slower. Teracopy just queues them all to the end of the file list and processes them one at a time. I've also had problems in the past with windows somehow forgetting to copy an entire folder, but I've never had that problem teracopy.

I know with windows firewall in XP, it offers no outbound leak detection/protection, but I think I've read it's been implemented in Vista, still surely not as good as solid 3rd party firewalls like Comodo.

I'm not smart enough to naviagate this page. Is there someplace that I can click where it will test my firewall leak? If so I can't find it

Winpatrol - Multipurpose tool for Windows that allows you to manage and keep an eye on startup programs, activeX controls, Services etc. I personally use this software and install it on all my personal machines.

Revo Uninstaller - Uninstalls programs and cleans up most of the garbage some of them leave behind.